Korede Akinpelu was adjudged the overall best student during the recent convocation ceremony of the University of Lagos. The Chemical Engineering graduate had a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.96 and is already a hot cake at just 21. In this interview with DAMILARE OKUNOLA, he bares his mind on how he was able to manage the feat
Congratulations on your recent success, how does it feel graduating as UNILAG’s best student in 2015?
Thank you so much. Apparently, I feel really happy and great because although many people thought it was normal for me to come out as the best student in my department, it did not come on a platter of gold. I worked really hard and I must say that it was God’s grace that worked more for me. I am grateful to everybody; friends, family and staff of my faculty at the University of Lagos. I am a product of good upbringing and the result just reflected that.
Did you envisage graduating with the best CGPA in the whole of UNILAG, knowing how many people you might be competing with?
To a large extent, yes. I was already the best student from ISL, so there were already a lot of expectations from me. In my second year, I was already on CGPA 5.0, so the expectations were always there and I truly appreciate God for enabling me meet up with those expectations.
Were you under pressure to meet up with people’s expectations?
Of course, there was pressure from every angle because it is more difficult to maintain a feat that to achieve it. But, I was able to keep a low head and take each semester as it comes.
What core challenges did you face while in school?
The core challenges were just the same as with every student on Campus. Hostel issues, power issues and several others. But, beyond that, I do not really think it’s about the challenges, but how one manages it. I was quick to respond to the challenges that came my way, that is why I am here today.
What moment would you say was key to your success?
That has to be my final year in school. Last year August, which happened to be my final semester, I lost my dad midway into my final exams. It defined what we are all celebrating today. It was definitely my most challenging period in life. At that point, I was working on my project and trying to cope with expectations. It was a trying period for me because my dad was someone very special to me, he was a motivating factor in my academic success. So, for me to still come out with a 5.0 grade that semester, despite the challenges, it was just God. That was the defining moment for me at the University of Lagos.
Could you tell us your routine in school?
From morning to about 3:00pm, I was always in the class whether I have lectures or not. For evenings, I go for fellowship meetings because I was an executive at the Redeemed Students’ Fellowship and the Engineering Students’ Fellowship as well. So, from about 6-10pm, I always get